Softball Splits Double-Header vs. West Conn., Drops Both At KSC

Softball Splits Double-Header vs. West Conn., Drops Both At KSC

Kam Towle

For the Clock 

kmt11@plymouth.edu

On Saturday, April 16th, Plymouth State University Softball hosted Western Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference doubleheader at D&M Park. The Panthers took the first game, winning 8-1, and the Colonials took the second, with a final score of 9-2.
In the first game, with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning, the Panthers exploded, rattling off six runs and making it hard for the Colonials to recover. The six-run PSU rally was highlighted by sophomore Nina Murray (Saugus, MA) and junior Emma Rhodes (Rochester, NH) hitting RBI singles, junior Katie Kennard (Concord, NH) hitting an RBI sacrifice fly, and senior Julia Royer (Pawcatuck, CT) capping the rally with a tworun homer to left-field, which was her first of the season.

PSU’s pitcher, senior Whitney Roberts (Chocorua, N.H.), was able to keep the Colonials in check all game and didn’t let them get back in the game after the second inning explosion by the Panthers. Roberts tossed a complete-game, only letting up six hits, to guide PSU to the 8-1 win in the opening game of the day. Senior Emily Cintorino (Bristol, CT.) started for WCSU and took the loss.

In the nightcap, Western Connecticut was able to get hits and get runs on the board. They took a 2-0 lead in the first inning as senior Allie Sabith (Meriden, CoT.) hit a two RBI single. PSU responded in the third inning when freshman Debra Morrill (Concord, N.H.) reached on a single and Kennard blasted a two-out homer for her second of the season.

The Colonials regained the lead in the fourth and their lead would stand for the rest of the game. They put up four runs in the fifth inning to take complete control of the game. Sophomore Kayla Nowak (North Branford, CT.) hit a three-run homerun to center, and then sophomore Jenna Gaudioso (East Haven, CT.) added an RBI double to right-field.

The Colonials added runs in the final two innings on a homerun by senior Michaela Roche (Bristol, CT.), her second of the day, and an unearned run from a throwing error in the seventh would prove to be the dagger, and Western took the game, 9-2.

Sabith pitched all six innings for Western, and improved her record to 6-4, while PSU’s Callia Abbot (Arco, N.J.) went three innings and was the losing pitcher.

Saturday’s split left Western Conn. at 12-14, with a 3-3 record in LEC play. PSU, who snapped their six-game losing streak was then 8-16 and 1-5 in LEC action.

Softball Drops Doubleheader at Keene State

Plymouth State Softball traveled to Keene State Tuesday, April 19th, for a double header against the Owls. Unfortunately, the Panthers suffered a loss in both games, losing 3-1 and 6-0 at the Owl Athletic Complex.

Keene’s Mariah Crisp gave up five hits and struck out five to earn a complete-game win in the opener on Tuesday. Plymouth’s lone highlight of the day was an RBI double to right center by Abrie Davis (Amherst, N.H.) that scored Kayla Nester (Fairfax, VT.) and gave them the lead in the fourth. Keene broke the lead in the sixth when they rattled off three runs. Jen Galavotti  hit her fourth homer of the season, a shot over the score- board in left center, which scored Morgan Fallon and gave them the lead for good. Keene State would another run for insurance with a single up the middle by Stephanie Long that scored Olivia Indorf and made the score 3-1 which would be the eventual final score.

In the second game of the day, KSC’s Molly St. Germain tossed just a two-hitter, both coming on singles to Katie Kennard (Concord, N.H.), and even hit a solo homer to support her own cause, giving the Owls the sweep on the day. St. Germain only allowed one runner to reach third base and retired the final 13 batters of the game.

Keene State would do all of its damage in the first three innings (6 runs), scoring one run in the first, three in the second, and two in the third. The runs consisted of two scores on wild-pitches, a tworun homer by Indorf, an RBI double by Galavotti, and the solo-homerun by St. Germain.

The Owls improve their overall record to 13-11, and 7-1 in LEC play, while PSU falls to 8-18 overall and 1-7 in the conference.

PSU will go on the road to play the University of New England at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, while Keene State will sit comfortably at home and await a doubleheader with Amherst College on Wednesday afternoon. 

CLOCK PHOTO/ ALEX CROSSLEY